Collapsible housing for swimming pool

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a foldable housing with which a sports equipment can be folded out easily and safely below the water line and such that a training can be performed or the sports equipment can be released from the wall bracket and placed freely within the swimming pool. After the training, the sports equipment can be folded together and, within the foldable housing, folded up to the wall of the swimming pool or the wall bracket and secured with little exertion of force and visually be barely perceivable from the outside, the content representing no risk of injury to swimmers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a foldable, adjustable housing as a carrier means, holding device or driving device for a sports equipment or as a repository for technical means in a swimming pool in accordance with the preamble of the first claim.

PRIOR ART

Under the designation of “aquafitness,” ergometers and treadmills are increasingly employed in the water in swimming pools for medical prevention as well as for highly sportive activities. In use, such equipment is placed into the swimming pool's water and removed from the swimming pool after training. Chromium steel has a tendency to corrode, especially when used with chlorine water in association with oxygen such that after use, the equipment needs to be cleaned with fresh water.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is the object of the invention to permanently leave a sports equipment or other technical means which is accommodated in a foldable housing and rests fixed to the swimming pool's wall when not in use in a swimming pool, in accordance with the preamble of the first claim.

The use of ergometer (bicycle frame without wheels) and treadmills in a swimming pool have advantages such as, e.g., joint protection or a higher calorie consumption per unit of time. On the other hand, the sports equipment needs to be moved over the swimming pool's rim and hauled back again which can damage the equipment or the rim of the swimming pool. Furthermore, such sports equipment often has a weight of more than 25 kg which in certain countries can lead to insurance problems with employed pool supervisors, but also in other ways, the incorrect lifting of such an equipment can lead to injuries to the spine in the case where the sports equipment is not properly lifted out of the water. A further dilemma is the question of where to place the sports equipment after training. Also, it should be cleaned with much fresh water after use, as chlorine water reacts with oxygen on chromium steel and leads to corrosion, which is soon perceivable by unsightly streaks of rust and stains.

The invention solves this problem by the sports equipment permanently remaining in the water of the swimming pool and, as long as the chromium steel of the sports equipment does not massively come into contact with oxygen, the equipment remaining protected against corrosion.

The remaining of the sports equipment in the water is resolved by means of a foldable housing wherein the foldable housing, as a protective shell, shields the swimmers from the contact with pieces such as handlebar, pedals, etc., on such a sports equipment, as well as serves as a carrier means, i.e., a basis for the sports equipment, and is placed onto the wall with a hinge. As such, an ergometer, treadmill, rowing machine or other sports means positioned within the foldable housing is operational at all times by only having to fold downwards or fold upwards or open sideways the foldable housing without hefting the sports equipment or searching a repository after use or having to transport the equipment to the setdown area, respectively, after use. The exertion of force for the lifting and lowering of the foldable housing is accordingly decreased by means of floats or gas springs or counterweights.

In public pools or hotels with sports programs, various sports equipment can also easily be detached from the swimming pool's wall and moved over the swimming pool's floor on wheels, set down where desired, and optimally integrated into the animation program.

According to the invention, this is achieved by the features of the first claim.

The essence of the invention is to allow a sports equipment to easily and safely unfold by means of a foldable housing and thereby being able to start training immediately. Thereafter, the sports equipment can be folded in again and the foldable housing can be folded up to the swimming pool's wall, secured and made invisible to the outside with little exertion of force.

Further advantageous configurations of the invention become apparent from the dependent claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Hereinafter, by reference to the drawings, exemplary embodiments of the invention are discussed in detail. In the different figures, equal elements are given equal reference numbers.

In the figures:

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a foldable housing on the wall of a swimming pool and a revolute joint as well as a folded-in ergometer integrated therein and a float;

FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of a foldable housing on the wall of a swimming pool having a revolute joint as well as shelves integrated therein and external steps and a holding bracket;

FIG. 3 is a schematic side view of a foldable housing on the wall of a swimming pool and a support wheel as well as recesses mounted therein as well as a wall bracket having a locking and a safety bolt;

FIG. 4 is a schematic side view of a foldable housing on the wall of a swimming pool and a revolute joint on a wall bracket, a displaceable bracket with a foldable lounger attached thereon, an extendible rod having a rope pulley with a rope guided therein which comprises a water container on one end and a handle on the other side.

Only the elements essential to the immediate understanding of the invention are schematically shown.

Means to Carry Out the Invention

FIG. 1 shows a schematic side view of a foldable housing 1 on the wall 2 of a swimming pool 3 and a revolute joint 4 as well as with a folded-in ergometer 5 integrated therein and a float 6.

The function of a foldable housing 1 is to provide a sports equipment 11 in the swimming pool 3 with few handling manoeuvres and without risk of injury for the back of the exerciser or the operator of the swimming pool 3 for the training under water W, wherein the sports equipment 11 is at the same time given a solid ground and, when not in use, the sports equipment 11 can elegantly be reposited hidden from sight in the swimming pool 3, such that nobody can damage the sports equipment 11, but also such that the sports equipment 11 can injure no one.

It is essential for the repositing of a sports equipment that its size can be reduced, i.e., that e.g. it is foldable and that, when it is brought into the operational position, it is fixedly standing on the floor 7 of swimming pool 3. For this, foldable housing 1 is ideally suited, as for one thing it comprises a revolute joint 4 connected with the floor 7 of swimming pool 3 or with the sidewall 1 b, respectively, or is attached on wall 2 of swimming pool 3 with a wall bracket as described in FIG. 3 and the foldable housing 1 being mobile.

If paying attention to the mounting direction, in which direction ergometer 5 is being mounted onto foldable housing 1, namely such as, when being unfolded, ergometer 5 is directed in viewing direction of swimming pool 3, the exerciser feels free on the ergometer, meaning without a wall 2 in front of his face. A float 6 can be inserted into foldable housing 1, the float resulting in the folding of foldable housing 1 being made practically with no exertion of force, or a counterweight can be attached which compensates for the weight of the folding part of foldable housing 1 and sports equipment 11 by means of a rope and a deflection pulley. The usage of a gas spring is also conceivable, which is expensive as the gas spring has to be absolutely resistant to chlorine.

Foldable housing 1 comprises a covering plate 1 having two sidewalls 1 b and a cover 1 c. Or the two sidewalls 1 b and the cover 1 c are fixed on the wall 2 and solely the covering plate 1 a is foldable. It is also conceivable that foldable housing 1 is vertically or horizontally displaceable based on rails in order to ultimately clear the desired pathway for sports equipment 11 and to fold it downwards from wall 2 or to displace it to a different location within swimming pool 3.

The water line WL indicates that in the normal case, foldable housing 1 is safely positioned below the water surface such that corrosion cannot cause damage on the high-value chromium steel parts as little oxygen reaches the chromium steel material. It is also conceivable that foldable housing 1 is tilted sideways in order to still remain fully immersed at a low water depth. The revolute joint 4 ensures that ultimately, ergometer 5 is slip-resitantly standing on floor 7 and the exerciser is able to safely perform his program without limitations or that sports equipment 11 in association with foldable covering plate 1 a ultimately indirectly stands on floor 7.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic side view of a foldable housing 1 on the wall 2 of a swimming pool 3 and a revolute joint 4 as well as with shelves 8 integrated therein and external steps 9 and a holding bracket 10.

Along with the integration of a sports equipment 11 in foldable housing 1, this shell can also be used as a repository for technical means in the context of swimming pool 3, such as, e.g., as a repository for a pool robot with its long flexible suction tube, as well as possible sports and play utensils and the like. For this, corresponding shelves 8 are positioned on wall 2 or on the inner side of foldable housing 1 onto and into which various means can be deposited or they can be placed into closable boxes such that the means will not float off immediately. A ladder or stairs having steps 9 can be attached on the outer side of foldable housing 1, including a holding bracket 10 directly connected to foldable housing 1 and to a supporting element 12 on land which comprises a floor locking 13. Also, holding bracket 10 can be fixed adjacent to foldable housing 1 on the rim of swimming pool 3 or a hybrid form can be used by holding bracket 10 being directly fixed on foldable housing 1 and another one as a standard holding bracket 10 on the rim or on the wall 2 of the swimming pool 3. Thus, the space required by such a foldable housing 1 is additionally connected to a device for easy entry and exit out of/into the swimming pool.

FIG. 3 is a schematic side view of a foldable housing 1 on the wall 2 of a swimming pool 3 and a support wheel 14 as well as recesses 15 a, 15 b mounted within foldable housing 1 as well as a wall bracket 16 having a locking 17 and a safety bolt 18.

In an “aquafitness” environment where many exercise as a group, the space at the walls 2 may be too small for the exercisers. For this, the foldable housings 1 can be tilted out of wall bracket 16, which are connected with wall 2 or the rim of swimming pool 1, by means of tilt locking 17 and pulled out and displaced to a desired location within swimming pool 1 by means of a pair of support wheels 14 and then tilted horizontally to the floor, wherein here, float 6 carefully lowers sports equipment 11 to the floor. There, sports equipment 11 can be deployed or taken out of foldable housing 1, depending on the type of sports equipment 11. After training, foldable housing 1 is lifted back onto support wheels 14, wherein a rope not shown here with a floating element and handle floats on the water surface and can be pulled after training in order to thus pull up foldable housing 1 without having to wet one's hair. Following this, by means of support wheels 14, foldable housing 1 can be brought to the wall bracket 16 again where a safety bolt 18 is placed which engages the lower recess 15 a and further up engages the upper recess 15 b the tilt locking 17 such that foldable housing 1 safely remains on wall 2 until the next training. It will be understood that the connection between wall bracket 16 with foldable housing 1 can be released in many ways. By means of the generously rounded edges on foldable housing 1, nobody can get injured on sports equipment 11 when not used, at the same time, sports equipment 11 is also protected.

FIG. 4 shows a schematic side view of a foldable housing 1 on the wall 2 of a swimming pool 3 and a revolute joint 4 on a wall bracket 16, a displaceable bracket 19 and foldable lounger 20 attached thereon, an extendible rod 21 having a rope pulley 22 with a rope 23 guided therein which comprises a water container 24 on one end and a handle on the other side 25.

Foldable housing 1 is also suited for additional sports equipment 11, shown here by way of example for a weights station 26 in which by means of a rope pulley 22 and a rope 23 and maybe additional deflection pulleys 22 a a weight G can be pulled up or pushed away or lifted. Such exercises correspond to those which are performed on land but can now be performed in swimming pool 3. This is enabled by means of a foldable housing 1 which can be extended or folded out. If foldable housing 1 is folded downwards, it can be used as a lounger 20 at the same time. In this case, foldable housing 1 is folded upwards and held in position with a stop not shown here. The folding upwards has the advantage that e.g. rope pulley 22 is directly mounted within foldable housing 1 and rope pulley 22 thereby already has a considerable height above the water line WL. The variation illustrated here shows a guideway 27 from which rod 21 is telescopically extended and on which rope pulley 22 is fixed and thereby the weight G in the form of a water container 24 can be lifted out of the water W by means of a rope 23 attached thereon. As long as water container 24 is in the water W, it does not act as a weight and, like a floating canister, drifts on the water surface, it is only with emerging from the water line WL that the water content within water container 24 acts as the weight G. This circumstance can also be used by water container 24 deliberately having water contact such that, e.g., in an exercise for muscle contraction, the highest weight G acts upon the muscle, and, the more the muscle is being decontracted, the more water container 24 slides into the water W, the lighter the weight G gets.

Water container 24 comprises marks indicating the intake in liters and which represents the kg or pound indication at the same time. Water container 24 comprises an opening 28 at the top such that water W can be filled in, and an output 29 where the water W can exit. The filling and releasing of the water W in water container 24 is performed manually or by means of an electrical pump and a stop valve sucking in water W from swimming pool 1 or releasing it thereto, activated by means of a switch, e.g., on the handle 25 or via voice input or a corresponding algorithm in a controller. Thus, variable weights can be accessed during training. In the case of the manual version, a drop valve 30 can also be attached which allows the water W in the water container 24 to drain adjustably regarding liters per minute such that the weight is permanently reduced during the exercise. Thus, a high weight can be lifted by the exerciser at the beginning and only little weight at the end with more strength repetitions being performed instead. It will be understood that another weight G can also be used, such as, e.g., rust-proof weight bars.

Weights station 26 can also comprise an adjustable bracket 19 having a hinge 4 a, wherein lounger 20 can be folded out into, e.g., a horizontal position and to a desired height, such that the exerciser can also perform sit-ups there, or can comprise the handle 25, which can also be a dumbbell bar or similar, or two separate handles 25, it thus also being usable as a rowing machine means, to and with a sliding seat and rail on the lounger 20. By means of the deflection pulley 22 a, the pulling position of rope 23 can accordingly be changed.

Other strength exercise components can be incorporated within foldable housing 1 and after the end of training, the whole can be elegantly and invisibly stored in foldable housing 1 and thus does not disturb any swimmer in swimming pool 3.

It will be understood that the invention is not limited to the shown and described exemplary embodiments only.

List of Reference Numbers

1 Foldable housing

1 a Covering plate

1 b Sidewalls

1 c Cover

2 Wall

3 Swimming pool

4 Revolute joint

4 a Hinge

5 Ergometer

6 Float

7 Floor

8 Shelf

9 Step

10 Holding bracket

11 Sports equipment

12 Support element

13 Floor locking

14 Support wheel

15, 15 a, 15 b Recess

16 Wall bracket

17 Tilt locking

18 Safety bolt

19 Bracket displaceable, adjustable

20 Lounger

21 Rod

22 Rope pulley

22 a Deflection pulley

23 Rope

24 Water container

25 Handle

26 Weights station

27 Guideway

28 Opening

29 Output

30 Drop valve

W Water

WL Water line

G Weight 

1. A foldable housing, wherein the foldable housing is attached in a swimming pool and consists of sidewalls, a covering plate and a cover and is able to be folded downwards by means of a revolute joint or displaced by means of a support wheel and the foldable housing is fixedly anchored on the wall or on the floor or on the wall bracket or the foldable housing is releasable and mobile by means of a tilt locking and a safety bolt and a sports equipment, shelves or other repository means are placed on the inner side of the foldable housing.
 2. The foldable housing according to claim 1, wherein the sidewalls and the covering plate and the cover form one unit and can be folded or that the sidewalls and the covering plate form a fixed unit and the cover can be folded.
 3. The foldable housing according to claim 1, wherein the sports equipment having the covering plate which at the same time also serves as an underlayment or is firmly connected to the wall bracket or the sports equipment can be released from the covering plate or wall bracket and can thereby be displaced within the swimming pool.
 4. The foldable housing according to claim 1, wherein the sports equipment can be an ergometer, a treadmill, a rowing machine, a weights station and similar, and that it is foldable when required.
 5. The foldable housing according to claim 1, wherein a float or a gas spring or a rope is positioned on the foldable housing.
 6. The foldable housing according to claim 1, wherein the rope serves to pull up the covering plate, is manually operated or is in operative connection with a deflection pulley attached on the wall or the wall bracket with a counterweight secured on the other end of the rope.
 7. The foldable housing according to claim 1, wherein the foldable housing is folded or displaceable up or down or sideways.
 8. The foldable housing according to claim 1, wherein steps or holding brackets or recesses are attached on the foldable housing.
 9. The foldable housing according to claim 1, wherein on the wall bracket, one or more elements thereof, namely, a revolute joint, tilt locking, safety bolt, movable bracket having a hinge or revolute joint are positioned.
 10. The foldable housing according to claim 7, wherein the movable bracket comprises a revolute joint on which the foldable housing is fixed or the lounger can be folded out by means of the hinge.
 11. The foldable housing according to claim 1, wherein the weights station comprises at least a rope pulley, a rope, a water container or a weight and a handle.
 12. The foldable housing according to claim 1, wherein the water container is filled or emptied manually or by means of a pump or is emptied over a regulatable time by means of a drop valve. 